PSC vs. CSU Channel Islands

Comparable Facts

Compare Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL with California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Polk State College is larger than CSU Channel Islands based on total student enrollment (10,318 students vs. 5,592 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting); California State University Channel Islands is in Camarillo, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Channel Islands is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Polk State College 19:1; California State University Channel Islands 16:1.

PSC vs. CSU Channel Islands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or CSU Channel Islands? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Polk State College than CSU Channel Islands ($10,011 vs. $10,632).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Polk State College are 21.3% lower than at California State University Channel Islands ($12,186 vs. $15,490).
• California State University Channel Islands is 165.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $4,465 more per year; $7,159.00 vs. $2,694.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 101.3% higher at CSU Channel Islands than at Polk State College (about $9,942 more per year; $19,759.00 vs. $9,817.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Channel Islands than at Polk State College (79% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Channel Islands students is 279.1% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($12,528 vs. $3,305).

PSC vs. CSU Channel Islands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PSC or CSU Channel Islands? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSU Channel Islands and PSC.

• Polk State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Open admission; CSU Channel Islands - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Channel Islands Jul 30, 2027.

PSC vs. CSU Channel Islands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and CSU Channel Islands? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from California State University Channel Islands earn a median of about $12,100 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College graduates have a $5,683 lower median loan debt than CSU Channel Islands graduates ($9,500 vs. $15,183).
• Among borrowers, PSC graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU Channel Islands graduates ($98 vs. $156).
• More CSU Channel Islands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 40%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.